Australia’s aged care system is under intense scrutiny as new figures reveal more than 120,000 older Australians are still waiting to be assessed for home care support on top of 87,000 who’ve already been approved but remain without the services they need.
The staggering backlog was revealed during a parliamentary inquiry examining the government’s decision to delay its major aged care reforms from July to November. Former acting inspector-general Ian Yates warned that the official waitlist may not reflect the true scale of demand, predicting most of the 121,596 awaiting assessments will ultimately qualify for support.
Originally, the government pledged to release 83,000 new home care packages in July to ease the pressure. But those packages have now been postponed until November, sparking frustration across the sector. Providers say they were ready to deliver services and don’t understand why the rollout was delayed alongside broader reforms.
Anglicare’s Kasy Chambers urged the government to act sooner, warning that even an eight-week delay can have serious consequences for older Australians. “Eight weeks is actually a very long time for an older person,” she said. “It can drastically affect their quality of life.”
The inquiry has amplified calls for urgent action, as many seniors face declining health and increased isolation while waiting for essential care.
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